Hong Bi-rong, a fisherman in Kinmen, travels to Xiamen, the nearest mainland city, several times a year with a multi-entry travel pass.

"I bought an apartment in Xiamen. I need to take care of it and also visit friends and family there. I've made many Xiamen friends in fishing," he says.

Lu Chih-hwei, chief secretary of Kinmen county government, tells Xinhua that Kinmen has played a role of "feeler" in cross-Strait relations.

"Many new cross-Strait policies are piloted here. We are honored to see the latest changes in cross-Strait relations," Lu says.

Although the two sides have operated direct flights and shipping services since late 2008, travel via Kinmen still has advantages, he says.

"Tourists can visit more destinations if they enter Taiwan via Kinmen and the travel cost is cheaper."

Kinmen University, established this month, is hoping to benefit from the trend by attracting mainland students.

Ten days ago, Taiwan legislature amended three laws to allow colleges to take students from the mainland. But the education department capped the number of mainland students at 2,000 each academic year.

However, Kinmen University will be excluded from the quota, and students from outside the island will enjoy the same tuition, courses and subsidies as locals, Lu says.

"We also hope the procedure of cross-Strait visits will be gradually simplified, so more people will travel across the narrow water."